Elissa immediately began searching for hotels or apartments around Washington, D.C. She found a hotel in Fairfax, VA (about a 45 minute Metro ride on a regular day) for $200/night. That was the cheapest available and also near a Metro.
She kept looking and was able to book a one bedroom apartment near Stanton Park - just six blocks from the Capitol and it was the same price as the hotel in Fairfax.